Playing-cards.



O. G. FISHER.

PLAYING CARDS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9, 1913.

1,100,869, Patented June 23,1914.

FFICE.

CLARENCE G. FISHER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

PLAYING-CARDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 9, 1913.

Patented June 23, 1914. Serial at. 805,577.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLARENCE G. FISHER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Rochester, Monroe county, State of New York, have invented certain new and use-- ful Improvements in Playing Cards, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to playing card games and has for its objects the provision of a set of playing cards adapted to be played in various ways to suit individual tastes for simple or complicated games, and to be a substitute generally for ordinary playing cards.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated what I consider to be the preferred form of my invention, it being understood, however, that the invention may be embodied in cards differently designated.

In the drawings Figure 1 illustrates a group of cards from one of the suits; Fig. 2 illustrates a group of cards from another of the suits; Fig. 3 illustrates a group of cards from one of the suits and bearing the same number; and Fig. 4 illustrates another group of cards from a different suit and bearing the same number.

According to my invention I employ a plurality of suits of cards which are distinguishable one from the other in that the cards of one suit represent an odd series of numbers and the cards of another suit represent an even series of numhers. I prefer to employ two odd suits and two even suits, which are differently colored so as to distinguish one suit from the other. I also prefer fourteen cards in each suit, thus providing a pack of fifty-six cards.

In Fig. 1 I have shown some of the cards from the black even suit. This suit comprises groups of cards numbered 2, 4, 6 and 8, there being three cards in each group and these cards are provided with indicia of different playing values. I prefer to use the words good, better and best to indicate the different playing values of the cards of each group, but it is understood that other indicia may be employed for this purpose.

In Figs. 3 and at I have illustrated groups of cards from two different suits. In Fig. 3 there is a group from the black odd suit, the cards being numbered 1 and distinguishable one from the other by the words Good, Better and Best. In Fig. 4

I have shown a group'of cards from the red even suit, these cards being numbered 8 and distinguishable one from the other by means of the words Good, Better and Best.

From the foregoing it will be understood that there are three cards in each of the numbered groups and four groups in each suit, making twelve numbered cards in each suit. I also prefer to include in each suit two un-numbered cards, one being a high card and the other being a low card. The high card of any suit has a playing value higher than that of any numbered card of that suit and the low card has a playing value lower than that of any numbered card. These high and low cards are shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

As above indicated I employ red even and black even suits and red odd and black odd suits, and in order to more clearly distinguish the suits I surround the numbers on the cards with different geometrical figures. The red even cards have the number inclosedin a square, as shown in Fig. 45 and the black even cards have the number inclosed in a diamond, as shown in Fig. 1. The red odd cards have the number inclosed in acircle, as shown in Fig. 2, and the black, odd cards have the number inclosed in an octagon, as shown in Fig. 3. The cards of the different suits are therefore readily distinguishable even to persons having impaired eyesight.

The cards may be played by different numbers of players, as with ordinary play ing cards, and I will now describe a method by which the cards may be played by four players. Each player is dealt eight cards to be held in the hand and six cards to be arranged on the table, three cards with the face downward and the other three arranged on these with the face upward. The play proceeds from right to left, the dealer starting the play and each player being required to play a card of the suit led, if he has one. The cards may be played either from the hand or from those which lie on the table with the face upward and when one of the latter has been played the card underneath is turned up. The highest card played of the suit led takes the trick.

I prefer to have the cards numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4 serve as count cards, the other cards serving merely as taking cards. When all of the cards have been played each player ascertains the sum of the count cards which he has taken and these sums are noted on a score card and the player who first attains a total of any predetermined number, such as fifty or one hundred, wins the game.

By having the cards numbered from one to eight and there being three cards of the same number in each suit the numbers are maintained within narrow limits, and by having the low numbered cards of the suits serve as count cards the counting of the score at the end of the play is made very convenient. Furthermore, by having the low numbered cards serve as count cards and the high numbered cards merely as taking cards, the game is susceptible of being played with much skill because the loss of a count card to an opponent increases the latters score whereas the loss of a high numbered card reduces the opportunity for taking tricks carrying count cards. The cards may aiso be played with one of the suits serving as the trump suit thereby adding a further element of skill to the play.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a card game, a plurality of distinctive suits, consisting of similar series of cards, the cards of each suit comprising a plurality of groups and the cards of each group being provided with indicia of the same counting value and other indicia of difi'erent playing values.

2. In a card game, a plurality of suits, one suit consisting of numbered cards of an odd series, and another suit consisting of numbered cards of an even series, the cards of each suit comprising groups each of which is composed of cards bearing the same number and indicia of difi'erent playing values.

3. In a card game, a plurality of difierently colored suits of similar series of odd numbered cards, a plurality of difl'erently colored suits of similar series of even numbered cards, the cards of each suit comprising groups each of which is composed of cards bearing the same number and indicia of diiierent playing values.

4. In a card game, a plurality of differently colored suits of similar series of odd numbered cards, a plurality of differently colored suits of even numbered cards, the numbers of which form, with the numbers of the odd series, a series of consecutive numbers, and the cards of each suit comprising groups each composed of a plurality of cards bearing the same number and indicia of different playing values.

5. In a card game, a plurality of suits, one of which consists of a series of odd numbered cards and distinctively marked high and low cards, and another suit which consists of a series of even numbered cards, and distinctively marked high and low cards, the odd and even numbers of the cards forming a series of consecutive numbers, and the nunr bered cards of each suit comprising groups each composed of a plurality of cards hearing the same number and indicia of different playing values.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE G. FISHER.

Witnesses B. M. KENT, ARTHUR L. BRYANT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

